106 Members of Congress Call on Speaker Ryan to Hold a Debate and Vote on Use of Military Force in Syria

On February 27, more than 100 members of Congress, including 96 Democrats and 10 Republicans, joined a bipartisan letter to Speaker Paul Ryan, calling on him to hold a debate and vote on the use of military force in Syria. This bipartisan letter was led by Reps. Barbara Lee, Tom Cole, James McGovern, and Walter Jones. This letter was released in conjunction with a bipartisan ad-hoc hearing on the 2001 AUMF taking place on Tuesday, February 27, 2018 hosted by the House Liberty Caucus and the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

Yasmine Taeb, FCNL’s Director for Human Rights and Civil Liberties, made
the following statement:

“It is long past time for Congress to have a full debate and vote on
war, and we thank these members of Congress for adding their voices to
this critical issue. It has been more than sixteen years since the
passage of the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force, and since
then, three administrations have used this resolution to wage endless
war.

“Congress has abdicated its constitutional duty to decide where and when
the United States goes to war. This cannot be allowed to continue, and
these representatives recognize the duty and responsibility they have to
the American people and the need for Congress to assert its proper role
and oversight responsibilities in determining when and where the U.S.
goes to war.”

Dear Speaker Ryan:

We write to ask that the House of Representatives immediately begin a
serious debate and vote on the use of military force (AUMF) regarding
the ongoing deployment of U.S. forces in Syria and express that the
President must seek approval from Congress before taking any further
military action in the region. We believe that Congress must live up to
our Constitutional duty to debate and vote on our ongoing military
operations without delay.

On January 17, 2018, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson voiced his
intention to commit U.S. troops to an indefinite military presence in
Syria, with the goals of defeating the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria
(ISIS) and al-Qaeda, expelling Iran from the region, and coordinating a
peace settlement that excludes President Bashar al-Assad. Furthermore,
Secretary Tillerson’s policies may require an expansion of U.S. military
in the region for an extended engagement in the Middle East

It is past time for the House to debate and vote on a new AUMF that
defines the purpose, geography, combat and tactical scope, and the fight
against ISIS in Syria and the surrounding region. The debate should also
allow members the opportunity to debate and vote on the long-term costs
and consequences of and alternatives to military action. We believe the
President must present a strategy and seek the approval of Congress
before any additional military action is taken against ISIS and al-Qaeda
in Syria, other nations’ military forces, or other non-State actors. If
the President will not send an AUMF we ask that you bring forward an
AUMF for consideration for a debate and vote.

For far too long, Congress has ignored these ongoing wars. Congress
cannot continue to remain silent and abdicate its Constitutional
responsibilities. We owe it to our brave service members and the
American people to act.

Yasmine directs FCNL’s work on a number of human rights and civil liberties issues, including lobbying for increased resettlement of Syrian refugees, more transparency and oversight of the U.S. lethal drones program, calling for the closure of Guantanamo, and for the repeal of the 2001 AUMF, among other issues.